Clean Slate has been funded by the Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire Cancer Alliance (SWAGCA) to help people on low incomes better engage with health screening programmes, and be able to identify symptoms when they occur.
Clean Slate Training & Employment has been funded to deliver a service in Gloucestershire, helping people on low incomes better engage with health screening programmes, have better knowledge around identifying symptoms and be able to prioritise healthier lifestyles. The aim is to help advance early diagnosis and address health inequalities in cancer.
This service started in early September, and includes light touch support at a drop-in in Matson, as well as five to six weeks of comprehensive support through the Quids in! programme.
The funding comes thanks to a major investment from the Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon & Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance, which has committed over £250,000 to local projects with community groups, charities and local organisations to address health inequalities.
As people on lower incomes were recently found to have a far lower life expectancy than their wealthier counterparts in ill-health, Clean Slate is committed to breaking down barriers to address health inequalities
About the Alliance and Clean Slate’s role
The SWAG Cancer Alliance is an NHS forum that brings providers and commissioners together with patients to co-design services, with the aim of improving quality and outcomes across cancer pathways. Its ambition that everyone, regardless of background or income, benefits from earlier diagnosis and better cancer care is one that aligns squarely with Clean Slate’s work.
Health messages often fail to reach people not because they lack interest, but because financial crisis leaves limited head space to act on them. When someone is struggling to feed their children or fears losing their home, their finances have to come first.
Clean Slate’s money-first model is built for exactly this: starting with the cost-of-living pressures people already face, helping them maximise their income and access grants and other support, building trust and financial stability first, then widening the conversation to health and prevention.
Trusted coaches, established drop-ins and proven tools like the Money Health Check mean Clean Slate can reach and engage the people that traditional health services struggle to.
An enhanced Money Health Check
At the heart of the project is an enhanced and adapted version of the core Money Health Check. Clean Slate has modified its 25-question quiz to include 15 health-related questions, focusing on early cancer detection, including spotting symptoms and attending appointments. The quiz also assesses general lifestyle and offers guidance on balancing your health while living on a low budget.
Each quiz generates a bespoke action plan that coaches will use to guide sessions with clients over the five to six weeks. Coaches work together with clients through weekly appointments, personalised guidance, and support between sessions if needed – by phone, text, or email. Everything is designed to fit around their goals and life, is person- centred and collaborative.
Where and when
Support will be offered to Gloucestershire residents at the Quids in! drop-in, every Tuesday from 10am to 1pm at The Ewe Space, GL4 6LL. Residents can receive light-touch support at the drop-in, and/or a Quids in! Coach at the centre can refer them into the five to six week programme.
The project runs from September 2026 until March 2027, with referrals for remote support ending in February 2027.
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